Istanbul protests: Second day of unrest in Turkey

Turkey is entering a second day of protests after clashes between police and demonstrators left dozens of people injured in Istanbul on Friday.

The protest began as a sit-in over plans to redevelop Gezi Park in Taksim Square, but escalated and became violent after police used tear gas.

Tear gas was again fired on Saturday morning as hundreds of protesters marched over a Bosphorus bridge.

In the capital, Ankara, protesters tried to march on the parliament.

'Creeping Islamisation'

Hundreds of protesters marched over the bridge connecting the Asian and European shores of Istanbul on Saturday morning to try to reach the main square.

Police fired tear gas to try to disperse them and some protesters threw rocks.

The BBC's Louise Greenwood in Istanbul says police from as far afield as Antalya are being drafted in to help quell the violence.

She says the central Taksim district and surrounding areas remain cordoned off and bridges are closed to traffic.

Istanbul's governor said a dozen people were admitted to hospital and more than 60 people detained after Friday's clashes, which continued into the night.

In Ankara, protesters staged what they described as a solidarity rally, with many participants chanting: "Everywhere is resistance, everywhere is Taksim!"

On Saturday, protesters chanting anti-government slogans tried to march on the parliament.

The US has expressed concern over Turkey's handling of the protests and Amnesty International condemned the police's tactics.

Witnesses said tear gas was deployed randomly on people who were "by and large protesting peacefully".

Demonstrators had gathered in Gezi Park to contest the controversial redevelopment project aimed at easing congestion around Taksim Square, which involved uprooting trees.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22739423